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Amazon, Wal-Mart jump on the HD DVD rebate bandwagon

Amazon and Wal-Mart are the two latest companies to offer rebates for those …

As the smoke clears from the former battlefield of the HD format war, multiple retailers are reaching out to customers who ended up on the losing side. The particulars and restrictions of the various rebate/refund offers vary, but all of them are aimed at helping customers who recently bought HD DVD players make the jump to Blu-ray. An earlier version of this post ran several weeks ago; this version has been updated with new rebate information, while old rebates that were no longer valid have been expunged.

Canadian-based Future Shop's offer has since expired since we first covered the HD DVD rebate question, but Amazon has just launched its own rebate program, and again, the terms are generous. Amazon is "rewarding" all customers who bought an HD DVD player before February 23 with a $50 Amazon.com credit, no strings attached. The deal isn't mentioned at Amazon.com, but the company has reportedly e-mailed all qualifying customers with details on the rebate. An Ars reader sent us a copy of the e-mail, which wryly notes that "new technologies don't always work out as planned."

Wal-Mart has also launched its own program, though again, details aren't being advertised on the company's web site. Any Wal-Mart customer who bought an HD DVD player on or before November 1 is eligible for a refund for the full purchase price. Original packaging is not required, but you must have a receipt for the purchase, and the offer expires April 30.

Best Buy is offering its customers a consolation prize, and the retailer's offer is fairly generous. Any customer who bought an HD DVD player from Best Buy at or before 11:59 PM CST on February 22, 2008, is eligible to receive one $50 gift card per player purchased. Eligible models include the Toshiba HD-A1, A2, A20, XA2, A3, A30, and A35, as well as the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on drive. Dual-format players and computers equipped with HD DVD drives do not qualify. Unlike other stores, Best Buy is not asking customers to return the HD DVD player; if you qualify for the gift card program, Best Buy is essentially paying you $50.

Customers who bought HD DVD players at other stores are also welcome to take advantage of Best Buy's Trade In center, though the company isn't exactly paying hand-over-fist for used HD DVD drives. A top-of-the-line A35 player from Toshiba ($499 MSRP in September, 2007) is only worth $95, but it's better than nothing. You can find the value of your trade-in here.

Best Buy's rival, Circuit City, has its own HD DVD trade-in program, though the company isn't advertising it. Customers who purchased an HD DVD player within the past 90 days may return the devices for store credit, or towards the specific purchase of a Blu-ray player (cost difference to be paid by the customer). Simply contact your local store.

Such programs aren't confined to the US or Canada. Japanese retailer Edion currently offers full value trade-ins on seven different HD DVD models towards the purchase of a Blu-ray system through the end of March. German retailer Saturn had its own trade-in promotion running at the end of January, though it may have since expired—the company's web site doesn't mention it. If you know of other trade-in programs at various stores in the US or around the world, please drop the information in the forums.

Ironically, cratering HD DVD player prices have made this an excellent time to buy. HD DVD players can be good upscale converters for DVDs, and movie prices are steadily falling as demand falls and customers switch to Blu-ray. The Xbox 360 standalone player has also fallen to $49.

None of these offers or rebates completely take the sting out of HD DVD's demise, but they do lessen it. Deals like Best Buy's could even turn out to be a long-term positive for the company; handing customers $50 when you aren't obligated to pay them anything is a good way to build customer loyalty and satisfaction. Some of these deals have time limits on them, or only run for a limited time, however, so it's best to take advantage of them in the near future.